A Seasonʼs Physical Fitness Profile of Female D-III Soccer Players

Abstract

Physical fitness is a key factor to soccer performance. The practical problem coaches and athletes face is the amount of training that is required to reach optimal performance. PURPOSE: This study profiled physical fitness of female D-III soccer players throughout the competitive season using session-RPE's to determine training loads. METHODS: 17 NCAA D-III female soccer athletes (mean + SD: age 19.6+ 1.3) served as subjects. Subjects performed an incremental treadmill test, lactate threshold test, and body composition before and after the nine-week competitive season. Training data were collected every day during the season and training loads were determined by multiplying the session-RPE (CR10-scale) by session duration in minutes. Team session-RPE's were correlated to the coach's planned session-RPE's. RESULTS: A repeated measures ANOVA determined a significant change in treadmill speed at lactate threshold from pre to post season (p <.02). There were no significant changes in VO2 max and body composition. The relationship between the weekly coach's planned session-RPE's and the team's perceived session-RPE's was significant (p <.05). Because of this significance, individual seasonal session-RPE's were determined from the weekly session-RPE's. The team was then separated into two groups: those athletes who over or equally perceived the planned seasonal session-RPE's (n=6), and those athletes who were below, or who underrated the coach's planned seasonal session-RPE (n=1 1). For the over/equal ranking group, there was a greater increase in VO2 max from pre to post season, but no change in treadmill speed at lactate threshold. For the underrating ranking group, there was no change in VO2 max from pre to post season, but there was a significant change in treadmill speed at lactate threshold. Neither group showed any change in body composition from pre to post season. CONCLUSIONS: Female collegiate D-III soccer players improve aerobic fitness over the course of a competitive season. There is a significant correlation between the weekly coach's planned and the athlete's perceived session-RPE's during the season. This relationship is supported by the fitness changes related to the seasonal session-RPE ranking groups. These findings support the need for increased attention on training periodization in soccer, but more specifically, on aerobic fitness in soccer players due to the significant positive affects it has been shown to provide in performance.